In a significant development affecting international aviation routes, many of the world’s leading airlines have begun voluntarily avoiding Pakistani airspace, even though they are not officially banned from using it. This move comes in response to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, which have resulted in mutual airspace restrictions. While Indian and Pakistani carriers are officially barred from using each other’s airspace, several Western carriers are taking proactive measures to steer clear of the region altogether.
Among the carriers currently avoiding Pakistani skies are Lufthansa, British Airways, Swiss, Air France, ITA Airways (Italy), and LOT Polish Airlines. These European operators have reportedly rerouted flights that would normally traverse Pakistani airspace, leading to longer journey times and increased fuel consumption. As a result, flights between India and Europe are now averaging approximately an hour longer than usual. This voluntary rerouting comes at a cost both for the airlines and for Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Airlines are incurring higher operational expenses due to increased fuel usage, which may eventually be passed on to passengers. Meanwhile, Pakistan stands to lose millions of dollars each month in overflight fees, which are typically collected from international airlines that pass through its airspace.
This financial blow to Pakistan echoes a similar situation in 2019, following India’s airstrike on a terrorist camp in Balakot, located in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. During that five-month period, Pakistan lost an estimated $100 million due to airspace restrictions. With the current standoff, that number could be even higher, especially if the voluntary rerouting by global airlines continues for an extended period. In the case of Indian carriers, the losses are particularly severe. Air India alone is estimated to be facing an annual financial hit of $600 million due to the inability to fly over Pakistan. The Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) estimates that Indian airlines are collectively absorbing additional costs in the range of $70–80 million per month because of the detours required by the ban.
On Thursday, major Indian airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet submitted detailed assessments and recommendations regarding the ongoing airspace restrictions to India’s Civil Aviation Ministry. These inputs are expected to form part of a broader policy discussion on mitigating the impact of geopolitical events on the country’s aviation sector. The root cause of the current standoff lies in the diplomatic fallout following a recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. In response to what it described as cross-border support for the attack, India imposed restrictions on Pakistani flights in its airspace. Pakistan, in turn, closed its airspace to Indian flights. This tit-for-tat airspace blockade has resulted in significant operational challenges for airlines on both sides.
However, for Pakistan, the cost may be disproportionately higher. While Indian airlines are financially burdened, global carriers voluntarily bypassing Pakistan will no longer pay overflight fees, stripping the country of a major source of aviation revenue. In a geopolitical conflict that shows little sign of easing, this may prove to be a strategic and economic setback for Islamabad. As the situation unfolds, aviation experts suggest that longer routes and additional costs could become the new normal unless diplomatic solutions are reached. In the meantime, passengers traveling between Europe and South Asia should brace for longer flight times and potentially higher ticket prices in the near future.
